Requesting advice for installing lowering springs on 2002 S60

keboose · Post by **keboose** » 19 Sep 2017, 18:58

I have a 2002 S60 T5, and I need new shocks on the front corners.

I am considering taking the opportunity of having the wheels off to lower my car using Eibach springs.

That thought started a conversation with a friend of mine. I want to stiffen the suspension somewhat, to make the car feel less like a boat, while still keeping some of the ride quality (I'll take "less fun in the corners" if it means I won't compress my spine when I hit a pothole.)

My friend (who knows far more about auto work than I do, so I consider his advice) claims that these springs will wear out the shocks faster than normal. He suggested replacing all 4 corners, which I am OK with, using a kit that contains lowering springs and "performance" Bilstein shocks.

I'm trying to keep a happy medium between cornering performance and comfort, and I am worried that this suspension kit might make the ride too stiff. Does anyone have an opinion or experience on how a kit like that would effect the car? Would it get the the point of being uncomfortable during normal driving?

As a side note, I am also planning on getting new rims (from 16" to 17" with lower profile tires.) I was told that this would be a good way to improve the "boaty-ness" without affecting the ride quality much. Would you consider this accurate?

At the moment, my opinion is to just get the springs and tires, and forgo the kit. What are your thoughts?

Thank you!

Post by **vtl** » 19 Sep 2017, 22:20

You want stiffer sway bars, not springs. Front one can be replaced with XC90's, rear one - take from S60R, all bolt-on. They are relatively cheap, about $170 each. I did similar swap on my XC70 (bars from XC90/V70R) and now can chase BMWs on a twisty road.

Post by **precopster** » 20 Sep 2017, 04:52

Lower profile tires with a smaller sidewall to achieve the same rolling circumference will naturally give you a harder ride. However choice of a quality tire such as Continental or Toyo will take some of that sting off the harder ride.

Eibach springs have the lowest impact on ride harshness from what I've read here and elsewhere. However if they are more than a half inch lower, suspension geometry will be adversely affected and your alignment people will need to know Volvos intimately.

The general consensus is to increase sway bar stiffness first with a diameter upgrade before using lowering springs and see how that feels.

If you want some of that factory ride left start with the bars and tires then see if that's enough.

Post by **oragex** » 20 Sep 2017, 09:10

Quite rare a lowering project on these cars, maybe for some reason. The 17in tires commonly rub inside, imagine with a lowered suspension.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 20 Sep 2017, 15:14

oragex wrote: ↑20 Sep 2017, 09:10 Quite rare a lowering project on these cars, maybe for some reason. The 17in tires commonly rub inside, imagine with a lowered suspension.

It's quite common over here. Quite a few overdone as well. Especially since Volvos are the go-to car for many teenagers first car and the P2s are old and cheap enough to fit the bill now.

My previous S80 looked like below when I bought it, I think it was lowered by 30-40 mm. I tired quite quickly of the harsh ride and poor handling on uneven roads the combination of low profile 19" tyres and lowering springs gave and put back the originals and 15" wheels. Didn't look too bad though.

Just putting new shocks on the car will make quite an improvement if the old ones are worn. Stiffer sway bars and new shocks would be a good start I'd say. If not enough 17" wheels are an easy additional thing to try.

As for rubbing tyres you need to change the steering limits(name?) on the control arms to get rid of it. Or just adjust how you drive.

Post by **oragex** » 20 Sep 2017, 16:48

Rattnalle wrote: ↑20 Sep 2017, 15:14Just putting new shocks on the car will make quite an improvement if the old ones are worn. Stiffer sway bars and new shocks would be a good start I'd say. If not enough 17" wheels are an easy additional thing to try.

As for rubbing tyres you need to change the steering limits(name?) on the control arms to get rid of it. Or just adjust how you drive.

It's called a steering stop or something similar.

Well, Sweden is the country of Volvo

I suspect you guys have as many of these are there are VW Golf in Germany?

Just my small experience about the struts, when I bough the car with 100k miles on it, it had all the original suspension. As you mention, the shocks were bad on our streets and even worst in cold winter days, it was just unpleasant how harsh they have gotten. BUT on smooth surfaces, I remember the car was so balanced and more like a go cart. Now with new Volvo struts and control arms the front of the car is weirdly jacked up and no near as good handling as with the original suspension. A mystery to me.

keboose · Post by **keboose** » 20 Sep 2017, 20:38

Thanks for the advice everyone! So far, this is what I'm hearing:

cornering performance is best improved with new sway bars. If I buy what vtl suggested, should I worry about new sway bar "end links," or just use the ones on the car? To be clear, how much will these effect the ride quality? I might just bite the bullet and get the IPD kit (PN 106672).

low profile tires may rub the wheel wells. The 16's I have already do that somewhat, so I plan to get some 5mm wheel spacers to fix that.

Lowering springs are a 50/50 opinion. The Eibach springs advertise just over an inch change in ride height, so if what precopster says is true, that could muck up the ride quality pretty badly (along with definitely needing an alignment.)

So the amended plan is new (normal) struts and springs, with better sway bars, and probably next summer get 17's with new tires since my current summers are nearly down to the danger zone.

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Sep 2017, 20:47

Tires, all things being equal on a 10-20 year old car, are the #1 way to improve handling for those seeking improved performance.

In other words, if you do one thing, make it tires. Then work your way down.

Post by **vtl** » 20 Sep 2017, 20:47

Rear sway bar effect will be pretty dramatic: no body roll in sharp corners, but it will stiff up suspension a lot. Maybe not so bad on a T5, which should have more firm stock sway bar, but on XC70 it was "too much". Since than I replaced rear springs with HD ones, and that equalized V70R sway bar somewhat.

keboose · Post by **keboose** » 21 Sep 2017, 07:45

vtl wrote: ↑20 Sep 2017, 20:47 Rear sway bar effect will be pretty dramatic: no body roll in sharp corners, but it will stiff up suspension a lot. Maybe not so bad on a T5, which should have more firm stock sway bar, but on XC70 it was "too much". Since than I replaced rear springs with HD ones, and that equalized V70R sway bar somewhat.

What do you mean by "HD" springs? I've never heard that term for springs before.

Anyway, what you're saying is that sway bars will effect the ride quality, regardless of what sway links I use?